Homophobia is still a large issue here in Northamptonshire leading to suicide and Self Harm, poor mental health outcomes and the use of drugs and alcohol being common due to the stigma.

The Young Healthy Minds Partnership – NCCG,CCCG, and NCC, commission The Lowdown to deliver the 'Out There Programme' for LGBTQ children, young people and their families where they can meet and explore ideas. http://thelowdown.info/issues/lgbtq/

LUSH, the organic soap company, have started their own campaign with big support in Northampton.

LUSH's limited edition Love Soap, with the slogan 'Gay Is OK' goes on sale worldwide today for a week.

In that time they hope to raise £250,000 for grassroots LGBT groups, especially those in countries with repressive regimes – in fact LUSH in Russia is not allowed to sell this soap.
 
Each store only has 72 bars, so get in quick!
 
If you can please tweet a picture of the soap, or ideally you with the soap, using the hashtag #GayIsOk.

If you would like to support this campaign, it would be a very supportive message to our local young people as well as the international work LUSH is doing.

Sophie, the store manager at Lush Northampton, has sent through some links below to explain the background to the campaign and why LUSH feel it’s needed.

Here are some links to LGBT campaign documentation and articles on our website that you might also find interesting:

https://www.lush.co.uk/article/sign-love

https://www.lush.co.uk/article/pansy-project-bristol

https://www.lush.co.uk/content/lush-australia-fighting-freedom-love

https://www.lush.co.uk/content/lush-japan-we-believe-love

https://www.lush.co.uk/article/lush-italy-say-yes-campaign

https://www.lush.co.uk/article/homophobia-and-transphobia-get-your-facts-straight

https://www.lush.co.uk/article/qa-peter-tatchell

Here is a link to the All Out website:

https://allout.org/about-en